child rearing

Like many other parents, I woke up on November 9th afraid for the future and struggling to find the right words to explain the election to my children. Though I didn’t know exactly what to say and the end result was probably far from perfect, I shared my fears about President …

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Screenwise: Helping Kids Survive (and Thrive) in Their Digital World, by Devorah Heitner. This new book, officially out today, explores the intersection of childhood, parenting and all these devices that we are all carrying around all the time. As someone …

A few weeks ago my 5 year old came up to me and said these 5 fateful words, “Mommy, Santa isn’t real, right?” As first I was a little stunned, because she had previously been pretty all in on this Santa thing. We have kind of half-assed it, to be …

Months ago, my toddler’s doctor suggested an Autism evaluation. It was expected. At 18 months old, he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder on top of his existing developmental delays, and has had therapy from an early age to help them clear these and other hurdles. In the weeks leading up to the evaluation, …

As reported here over the weekend, Target has announced that it will remove signage and other culturally enforced color designations in its stores over the next several weeks, presumably in time for a holiday shopping season that will see Lego Friends and Elves moved to the building set aisle where …

Earlier this week, Fortune published a confessional think piece titled Female company president: “I’m sorry to all the mothers I worked with”. It is an interesting piece and one I can relate to from the other side of the desk as a woman and a mother. I will never know …

As anyone who has ever existed in the world with nosy family and coworkers can tell you, there’s not much that people won’t express an opinion about when it comes to the various milestones of adulthood. Are you over 23? Well, are you in a relationship? When are you getting …

I’ve been an atheist since I can remember. Some people think I’m kidding when I say this, but I can clearly remember my Lutheran kindergarten, when the teacher was going on about Jesus and I was giving all the other kids the side-eye: You’re not really buying this? Dr. Skull, …

At writing this, Pickle is tucked soundly in bed with his lovey clutched tightly to his chest. It is 30 minutes into a school day, he’s home sick and I am lucky enough to be home with him. We have a lot of advantages that most families don’t have. I …

Close readers of my posts here on Grounded Parents know that I am a big fan of the work Melissa Atkins Wardy of Pigtail Pals Ballcap Buddies is doing. Several years ago I was struggling to find a voice for something that had been bothering me immensely as a parent …